USPTO Patents Application 09934985

CERTIFICATE OF MAILING UNDER 37 CFR§ 1.10

I hereby certify that this correspondence is being deposited with the United States Postal Service as Express Mail in an envelope
addressed to: Assistant Commissioner of Patents, Washington, DC 20231 on August 22, 2001 /f
EXPRESS MAIL LABEL EL 888549661 US (\ ( \, V „ \ a s\k M

COMPUTER APPARATUS, DISPLAY APPARATUS, DISPLAY CONTROL
APPARATUS, STORAGE MEDIUM, PROGRAM TRANSMISSION APPARATUS,

AND DISPLAY CONTROL METHOD

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a computer apparatus, a display apparatus, a display
control apparatus, a storage medium, a program transmission apparatus, and a display
control method, suitable for use in displaying images.

Description of the Related Art

The proliferation of liquid crystal display apparatuses using an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display)
panel as a display unit for personal computers and various other kinds of monitors is well
known. In recent years, in particular, technological advances have led to a dramatic
improvement in the panel resolution of LCD panels. As a result, it has become possible
to display an entire image (comprising many image objects and/or pixels) within the display
area of an LCD panel, and to display many objects simultaneously on a display screen.

Amirah Scarborough

Name of Person Mailing Document

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

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However, it is also well known that as panel resolution of a display unit increases, the size
of the displayed objects decreases (e.g., objects such as characters and icons, displayed
on the display screen) and the more difficult it is to vie such objects on the screen. This
is an especially serious problem for users with weak eyesight.

Now, objects such as characters and icons, application windows, or the like, are laid out
on the desktop on the basis of the operating system (abbreviated to "OS" below: for
example, U.S. Microsoft Corporation's Windows® 95, Windows® 98, Windows® NT, etc.)
of a computer apparatus.

It has traditionally been possible to set a desktop resolution on the display screen of a
display unit in a plurality of steps. It has therefore been possible for a user to change a
size of objects laid out on the desktop by changing the desktop resolution as desired.

However, when the desktop resolution is lowered in order to display objects at a greater
size, it becomes impossible to display an entire desktop area in the display area of the
display unit, or to display a plurality of objects simultaneously on the display screen.
Moreover, when the desktop resolution is changed, processing is automatically executed
by the OS in order for icons, application windows, and so forth, that reside on the desktop,
to be rearranged on the desktop for which the desktop resolution has been changed.
Thus, the layout of icons, application windows, and so forth, may be changed,
inconveniencing the user. Also, when the desktop resolution is changed, display unit and
display unit driver reboot processing, at least, may be performed on the OS side,
depending on the kind of OS, giving the user a feeling of lack of continuity in using the
computer apparatus. Thus, changing the desktop resolution in this way cannot be called
a fundamental solution to the problem.

A function called screen expansion already exists for this kind of problem. When, for
example, an image 640 x 480 dots in size is displayed on a display unit with the panel

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resolution set to 1024 x 768 dots, this function displays the image, only, enlarged by a
prescribed magnification. By this means, characters and icons can be displayed in
enlarged form, improving their visibility to the user.

However, as this function simply enlarges the entire image, various kinds of
inconveniences may arise: for example, after enlargement, a part that the user desires to
be at the edge of the display screen may not be and may be difficult to see, or may be
outside the display area of the display screen, and, if so, not visible at all.

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SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an objective of the present invention to provide a computer apparatus, display
apparatus, display control apparatus, storage medium, program transmission
apparatus, and display control method that enable visibility to be improved without
decreasing ease of use.

In one aspect of the present invention, when a prescribed event is generated, the
image being displayed on the display unit is displayed with a changed display unit
display resolution. By changing the display resolution of the display unit in this way, the
screen being displayed on the display unit can be displayed in enlarged or reduced
form. As a result, there is no intention of limiting the case to either screen enlargement
or reduction, but to give a concrete example of screen enlargement, by lowering the
display resolution of the display unit, it is possible to perform enlarged display of part of
the screen being displayed on the display.

In another aspect of the present invention, it is desirable to store, by display status storage
means, the display status of the display unit when the prescribed event occurred--that is,
the original display status before performing enlarged or reduced screen display. The
display status of the display unit includes the desktop resolution of the display unit, the
data of the screen that was being displayed when the prescribed event occurred, and so
on. Moreover, if data of the screen to be drawn anew on the display unit is stored by
display status storage means when it is output from the computer main unit, the screen
data can be updated and the latest screen data can be held at all times. The screen to be
displayed by the display unit can be either a still image or a moving image.

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Further, a prescribed event generated by event generating means can be characterized
by being input to the display control means without being notified to the operating system.
By so doing, it is possible for screen enlargement or reduction processing to be executed
by changing the display resolution of the display unit without notifying the OS.

In another aspect of the present invention, when prescribed input is performed while a
screen is being displayed at the desktop resolution set by the desktop resolution setting
section, the image is displayed with the display unit display resolution made different from
the desktop resolution. Therefore, it is possible to perform enlarged or reduced display of
an image that was originally displayed at the desktop resolution.

Additionally, if a prescribed input is performed while a screen is being displayed at a
display resolution different from the desktop resolution, as described above, the image is
displayed at a display resolution that has been made the same as the desktop resolution,
it is possible to restore the original desktop screen-that is, the display prior to enlargement
or reduction.

In another aspect of the present invention, when screen enlargement processing is
requested by the interface driver, the display status of the display apparatus main unit is
stored by display status storage means, and the image within the area set by area setting
means can be displayed in enlarged form on the display apparatus main unit for which the
display resolution has been lowered by enlargement processing means.

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Additionally, the area setting means can be characterized as setting a prescribed area on
the basis of a pointer displayed on the screen of the display apparatus main unit. As a
result, the user can set an area at the desired position. Also, it is desirable for the size of
the area set by the area setting means to be selectable. This makes it possible to change
5 the screen enlargement magnification. In addition to the mouse pointer (mouse cursor),
the cursor indicating the input position of a character, etc., or the like, can also be used as
a pointer.

The display control apparatus of the present invention acquires image data of an area set
on the basis of the pointer position, and displays this image data on the display apparatus
10 for which the display mode has been changed. In this way, the image display
J 5 magnification can be changed. Additionally, when the acquired image data is displayed
;B on the display apparatus, this display control apparatus stores the display status of the
,p screen that was being displayed on this display apparatus. Here, "display status of the
screen" includes, at least, the desktop resolution (display resolution of the display unit) at
iSfr that time, and may also include the data for displaying the screen at that time, and so forth.

I J| Also, when the pointer reaches the edge of a screen displayed at a changed magnification,
ly this display control apparatus may also scroll the screen by means of scrolling means.

In another aspect of the present invention, the present invention can also be utilized as a
storage medium on which a program that executes first processing that accepts input for
20 changing the screen display resolution, and second processing that displays part of the
on-screen image being displayed when the first processing is executed, with the display
resolution of the display screen changed, is stored, so as to be readable by a computer
apparatus.

In another aspect of the present invention, the present invention can also be taken as a
25 program transmission apparatus including: storage means for storing a program to be

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executed on a computer apparatus; and transmitting means for reading the program from
the storage means and transmitting this program to the computer apparatus, in which the
above described program executes on the computer apparatus processing that, when
prescribed input requesting image enlargement processing is performed, saves the
desktop environment and image data of the display screen at that time and performs
enlarged display of the image within an area set in part of the display area of that display
screen; and processing that updates the saved image data when image data to be
displayed on the display screen is input anew.

It will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that the computer apparatus here
is not limited to a computer apparatus solely consisting of a display unit and a computer
main unit that controls it, but is also inclusive of devices , systems, equipment and similar
apparatuses that include a display apparatus, a driver that controls the display unit, and
so forth.

Additionally, the display control method of the present invention may further comprise: a
first step of setting an area in part of the image being displayed when input is performed
for changing that image size; a second step of changing the display mode of the display
apparatus without notifying the operating system; and a third step of displaying on the
display apparatus for which the display mode has been changed, the image within the area
set by the first step.

Further, the display control method of the present invention may also comprise: a fourth
step whereby, when input is performed for restoring the image size to what it was originally,
the display mode of the display apparatus, which was changed by the second step, is
restored to what it was originally; and a fifth step of displaying an image on the display
apparatus for which the display mode has been restored to what it was originally.

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BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Other aspects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become
more fully apparent from the following detailed description, the appended claims, and
the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a drawing showing a configuration of a computer apparatus according
to one embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a drawing showing an example of an operating section of a computer
apparatus;

Figure 3 is a drawing showing a viewport that is set based on a mouse pointer
displayed on a display screen of a display unit, and a situation when this viewport is
displayed in enlarged form;

Figure 4 is a drawing showing a configuration for performing enlarged display of a
viewport;

Figure 5 is a table showing a relationship between a viewport size, a panel
resolution, and an enlargement magnification of an image displayed in a viewport;

Figure 6 is a drawing showing examples of an image displayed in enlarged form;

Figure 7 shows an example of a program for executing processing for performing
enlarged display of a viewport according to a display area of a display unit;

Figure 8 is a drawing showing a flow when viewport enlargement processing is
performed;

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Figure 9 is a drawing showing a processing flow when a display range is scrolled
in accordance with a movement of the mouse pointer in a viewport displayed in enlarged
form;

Figure 10 is a drawing showing a processing flow when a viewport displayed in
enlarged form is restored to its original display status; and

Figure 11 is a drawing showing another example in which a viewport is displayed
in enlarged form.

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DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a computer apparatus that sets a
viewport area on a display screen displayed on a display unit, and performs enlarged
display of the image within the viewport area when a prescribed operation is performed by
the user is provided for, wherein, in order to perform enlarged image display at this time,
the display resolution of the display unit, not the desktop resolution, is changed.

Figure 1 is a drawing to explain the general configuration of the computer apparatus
according to a preferred embodiment. In this drawing, reference numeral 10 denotes the
CPU on the computer main unit side that administers the entire computer apparatus and
is controlled on the basis of the OS, reference numeral 1 1 denotes the main memory on
the computer main unit side, reference numeral 12 denotes a display unit (display
apparatus main unit), reference numeral 1 3 denotes a mouse or other manipulating means
(called simply "mouse" below) for manipulating a mouse pointer (pointer) displayed on the
display screen of the display unit 12, and reference numeral 14 denotes a keyboard.

In a preferred embodiment, an LCD panel is used for the display unit 12. In order to
perform screen display on the display unit 1 2 based on drawing instructions from the CPU
1 0, the computer apparatus is provided with a display control block (display control means)
15.

The display control block 15 comprises video memory 20 that stores image data
transferred from the main memory 1 1 , etc., a video driver (display apparatus driver) 30 that
performs control for displaying screens on the display unit 12, and a video chip (display
control section, image display means) 40 that executes prescribed processing on the basis
of commands from the video driver 30.

The mouse 1 3 and keyboard 14 are provided with a user interface driver 50 that processes

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events when the user manipulates the mouse 13 or keyboard 14. Also, the mouse 13 is
provided with a mouse driver 60 that converts a user event input via the user interface
driver 50 to prescribed processing corresponding to an application in the active state, and
executes it.

Figure 2 shows an example of the operating section of the computer apparatus. The
computer apparatus according to the present embodiment is of notebook type, and its
operating section comprises a keyboard 14, and in addition a pointing device 13A and
operating buttons 13B, 13C, and 13D, as the mouse 13 shown in Figure 1.

The pointing device 13A is equipped with a detection sensor (not shown) at its base, and
operations to move the mouse pointer on the display screen of the display unit 12 are
performed by detecting displacement of the pointing device 13A in any direction with this
detection sensor. Operating buttons 13B and 13C are for performing so-called click
operations, while operating button 13D allows an action to be defined without relation to
the OS. When operating button 13D is manipulated, a request for viewport enlargement
processing, described later, is made to the user interface driver 50.

In a computer apparatus with this kind of configuration, the resolution of the desktop
displayed on the display unit 12 as the basic screen (called simply "desktop resolution"
below) is stored by storage means (a desktop resolution setting section) such as the main
memory 1 1 or other nonvolatile memory, for example. It is possible to select a plurality of
steps for this desktop resolution, apart from the default desktop resolution, with the panel
resolution of the display unit 12 itself as the maximum value.

Data of the screen to be displayed based on drawing instructions from the CPU 10 is
transferred from the main memory 1 1 to the video memory 20, and is stored in a desktop
data storage section (display status storage means) 21 set in the video memory 20 (see
Figure 4). The desktop resolution and the displayed image data are stored in this desktop

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data storage section 21 as the display status or desktop environment of the display unit 1 2.
Image data updating is performed constantly for the desktop data storage section 21 from
the CPU 10 side.

A mouse pointer MP is displayed by the video driver 30 on the display screen of the display
5 unit 12, as shown in Figure 3. When the user performs an operation to move the mouse
pointer MP on the display screen of the display unit 1 2 by means of the mouse 1 3 (pointing
device 1 3A), an event corresponding to that operation is input to the video driver 30 via the
user interface driver 50 and the mouse driver 60. Then, predetermined processing is
executed by the video chip 40 on the basis of a command by a mouse pointer control
10 section (pointer position recognition means) 31 provided in the video driver 30 (see Figure
4), and by this means the mouse pointer MP moves on the display screen of the display
jB unit 12.

JS The functional configuration of the display control block 15 of the computer apparatus in
W realizing the present invention in a computer apparatus with the above described kind of
hardware configuration is as follows.

ill Namely, the user interface driver 50 of the display control block 15 is provided with an
J J event processing section (event generating means) 51 , as shown in Figure 4. This event

processing section 51 outputs events corresponding to operations performed by the user

with the mouse 13 or keyboard 14.

20 Also, as shown in Figure 3, the user interface driver 50 comprises a viewport resolution
setting section (display resolution setting section) 52, viewport generation/erasure request
section 53, and viewport position detection section (area setting means) 54, for displaying
a viewport (area) VP of a prescribed size on the display screen of the display unit 12.

The viewport VP is set as a prescribed area based on the mouse pointer MP displayed on

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the display screen of the display unit 12, and in the present embodiment, is set, for
example, as a rectangular area with the mouse pointer MP at its center.

The size of this viewport VP can be set by the viewport resolution setting section 52 in a
plurality of steps within a range with the panel resolution of the display unit 12 as the

5 maximum value. For example, if the panel resolution of the display unit 1 2 is 1 600 X 1 200
pixels (UXGA), the size of the viewport VP could be set at five levels: 1400 X 1050 dots
(SXGA+), 1 280 X 1 024 dots (SXGA), 1 024 X 768 dots (XGA), 800 X 600 dots (SVGA), and
640 X 480 dots (VGA). The user selects the desired viewport VP size from the plurality of
levels that can be set, and inputs this using a predetermined operating method. By this

10 means, the selected viewport VP size is set in the viewport resolution setting section 52.

On receiving notification of an event for requesting viewport VP enlarged display from the
,p event processing section 51 , the viewport generation/erasure request section 53 issues a
\% request for viewport VP generation to the video driver 30. Also, on receiving notification
fR of an event for requesting cessation of viewport VP enlarged display from the event
153 processing section 51 while the viewport VP is being generated, the viewport
!Jf generation/erasure request section 53 issues a request to the video driver 30 for
ill processing to stop the viewport VP enlarged display and restore the original desktop
\2 display.

The viewport position detection section 54 calculates the position at which the viewport VP
20 should be generated at the point in time at which viewport VP generation is requested by
the viewport generation/erasure request section 53. By this means, in the present
embodiment, information on the position at which the viewport VP should be generated
(more specifically, the positions of three or four of the corners of the viewport VP) is
acquired based on the position of the mouse pointer MP that can be recognized by the
25 mouse pointer control section 31 at that point in time, and this is output.

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The video driver 30 that receives viewport VP generation requests from the viewport
generation/erasure request section 53 comprises, as the corresponding configuration, a
display mode control section (display mode changing means) 32, a display position
information processing section 33, a viewport enlargement processing section
5 (enlargement processing means, image data acquisition means) 35, and a viewport display
position control section (scrolling means) 36.

On receiving a viewport VP generation request from the viewport generation/erasure
request section 53, the display mode control section 32 changes the display mode-that
is, the display resolution-of the display unit 1 2 according to the viewport VP size set in the
10 viewport resolution setting section 52. For example, if the viewport VP size is set as 800

■ 5 X 600 dots, the display mode control section 32 sets the display resolution of the display

j| unit 12 to 800X600 dots.

The display position information processing section 33 converts position information forthe
111 viewport VP to be generated, that is output from the viewport position detection section 54,
153 to position information in the image data stored in the desktop data storage section 21 of
!Jt the video memory 20, and stores this in a register area set in the video chip 40.

\2 As image data acquisition means, the viewport enlargement processing section 35 has the
video chip 40 acquire from the desktop data storage section 21 image data of the part
corresponding to the viewport VP area to be generated, based on the above described

20 position information stored in the register area of the video chip 40, and has it displayed
on the display unit 12 for which the display resolution has been changed by the display
mode control section 32. In parallel with this, the viewport enlargement processing section
35 requests the video chip 40 to perform processing to enlarge the image size for image
data stored in the desktop data storage section 21 up to the panel resolution of the display

25 unit 12.

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Since, in the present embodiment, the display resolution of the display unit 12 is here
made the same as the viewport VP size by the display mode control section 32, the image
in the area within the viewport VP is enlarged to the same size as display area A of the
display unit 1 2 (the area enclosed by dotted lines in Figure 3), and is displayed in the entire
area of display area A of the display unit 12. Thus, the image in the area within the
viewport VP is displayed enlarged to the prescribed magnification. The table shown in
Figure 5 shows the enlargement magnifications for viewport VP sizes (= display unit 12
display resolution after enlargement processing) corresponding to various display unit 12
panel resolutions. For example, a viewport VP of 800 X 600 dots displayed on a display
unit 12 with an original panel resolution of 1600 X 1200 dots is displayed in enlarged form
in the entire display area of the display unit 12, being enlarged to a magnification of 4x.

Figure 6 shows examples of an image enlarged by the viewport enlargement processing
section 35. The sample images shown have been enlarged for display by setting the
viewport VP to 1 280 X 1 024, 1 024 X 768, 800 X 600, and 640 X 480 dots, respectively, for
the original image displayed on the display unit 12 with a panel resolution of 1600 X 1200
dots, and changing the display resolution of the display unit 12.

At the time of performing enlarged display of the viewport VP, the viewport enlargement
processing section 35 performs processing to make it match the display area of the display
unit 1 2. Figure 7 shows an example of a program for this purpose. This program acquires
the coordinates of four points-two in the horizontal direction and two in the vertical
direction-for the viewport VP shown in Figure 3, and executes processing to position these
at the four corners (whose coordinates are already known) of the display area of the
display unit 12. To be more precise, when the mouse pointer MP position coordinates C
in Figure 3 are (h, v), processing is performed so that the horizontal coordinates of the two
points at both horizontal-direction corners of the viewport VP, [c(h)-H/2eh+1] and
[c(h)+H/2eh], are set to (1 , H/eh) and (H- H/eh +1 , H), and the vertical coordinates of the
two points at both vertical-direction corners of the viewport VP, [c(v)-V/2ev+1] and

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[c(v)+V/2ev], are set to (1 , V/2v) and (V- V/2v +1 , V).

As a result, the viewport VP is displayed in enlarged form, with the part desired by the user
at the center, in the entire display area of the display unit 12 with the mouse pointer MP
at the center.

At the time of performing viewport VP enlargement processing as described above, the
viewport enlargement processing section 35 does not reset (clear) the original display
status data stored in the desktop data storage section 21. Original display status data
includes the desktop resolution and image data for the image that was being displayed on
the desktop (that is, the desktop, and icons, application windows, etc., displayed on the
desktop), where such continue to be held in the desktop data storage section 21 .

That is to say, the OS is not affected by viewport VP enlargement processing.

In a viewport VP displayed in enlarged form on the display screen of the display unit 12,
the mouse pointer MP is under the control of the video driver 30, and can be moved in the
same way as on the desktop.

The viewport display position control section 36 monitors movement of the mouse pointer
MP on this viewport VP. In the same way as a so-called virtual screen function, on
detecting that the mouse pointer MP has reached the edge of the viewport VP area and
an attempt is being made to move it further, outside the area, the viewport display position
control section 36 moves the position of the viewport VP in the direction of movement of
the mouse pointer MP, and scrolling of the image displayed within the viewport VP area
can be performed. Also, on detecting that the position of the viewport VP has reached the
edge of the desktop area, the viewport display position control section 36 halts viewport
VP movement processing-that is, scrolling.

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Next, the viewport VP enlargement processing method in a computer apparatus with the
above described kind of configuration will be described.

Figure 8 shows the flow when viewport VP enlargement processing is performed. As
shown in this drawing, when the user presses operating button 13D after positioning the
5 mouse cursor with the pointing device 13A as a mouse 13 in the center of the position for
which enlarged display is desired, that event is received by the event processing section
51 of the user interface driver 50 (step S101 ).

A viewport generation command is then output to the viewport generation/erasure request
section 53 from the event processing section 51 (step S102). On receiving this, the
viewport generation/erasure request section 53 issues a viewport generation requesttothe
video driver 30. At this time the user interface driver 50 outputs to the video driver 30
,p viewport information on the size of the viewport VP to be generated, which has been set
IS in the viewport resolution setting section 52. Together with this, the user interface driver
( R 50 outputs to the video driver 30 viewport VP position information based (centered) on the
15tj mouse pointer MP at that point in time, detected by the viewport position detection section
jfj 54 (step S1 03).

The size of the viewport VP can be determined by the user beforehand with the viewport
resolution setting section 52, or it is also possible to have a plurality of selectable viewport
VP sizes and enlargement magnifications indicated to the user by the user interface driver
20 50 when a viewport generation request is received from the user, and to have the user
make a selection and decision from among these.

The video driver 30 receives a request from the viewport generation/erasure request
section 53 (step S1 04). The video driver 30 then converts viewport VP position information
output from the viewport position detection section 54 to position information in the video
25 memory 20 by means of the display position information processing section 33, and stores

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it in the register area of the video chip 40. Also, the viewport enlargement processing
section 35 has the video chip 40 acquire from the desktop data storage section 21 image
data within the area of the viewport VP to be generated, based on the above described
position information (step S105).

The video chip 40 executes processing by the program shown in Figure 7, based on the
viewport VP position coordinates, for the image data within the acquired viewport VP area,
and then issues a drawing request to the display unit 12 (step S106).

The display mode control section 32 issues a request to the video chip 40 for display unit
12 display resolution change processing on the basis of viewport VP size (resolution)
information output from the viewport resolution setting section 52 (step S107). On
receiving this, the video chip 40 stores the viewport VP size information (set values) in the
register area, and changes the display resolution of the display unit 12.

In addition, the video chip 40 has drawing executed by the display unit 12 for which the
display resolution has been changed, based on image data acquired from the desktop data
storage section 21 (step S108).

Together with this, the video chip 40 executes processing to enlarge the image size for
image data stored in the desktop data storage section 21 up to the panel resolution of the
display unit 12, in accordance with a request from the viewport enlargement processing
section 35.

In this way, the image data within the viewport VP area is displayed in enlarged form in the
entire display area of the display unit 1 2 for which the display resolution has been changed.

As the image size for this image data stored in the desktop data storage section 21
undergoes enlargement processing up to the panel resolution of the display unit 12, the

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entire desktop area can be held as a so-called virtual screen.

While the viewport VP is displayed in enlarged form on the display unit 12, the viewport
enlargement processing section 35 acquires image data from the desktop data storage
section 21 which receives image data updates from the CPU 10 side. In this way, it is
5 possible for the image displayed in enlarged form on the display unit 1 2 to be updated and
displayed in the same way as on the desktop, and also for moving pictures to be displayed.

Figure 9 shows the flow of screen scroll processing when the mouse pointer MP is
manipulated while the viewport VP is being displayed in enlarged form. When the mouse
pointer MP is manipulated by means of the pointing device 13A while the viewport VP is
i6S being displayed in enlarged form, the event processing section 51 of the user interface
driver 50 detecting this receives this event (step S201 ). The event processing section 51

5 p then notifies the mouse driver 60 on the OS side that there has been an operation to

J 5 change the position of the mouse pointer MP (step S202).

^ ? 5

O The mouse driver 60 detects the position of the mouse pointer MP (step S203), and
notifies that position information to the video driver 30 (step S204).

jT On receiving notification from the mouse driver 60 (step S205), the video driver 30
analyzes, in the viewport display position control section 36, whether or not the mouse
pointer MP has reached the edge of the viewport VP area and an attempt is being made
to move it further, outside the area (steps S206 and S207). Then, when it is detected that
20 the mouse pointer MP has reached the edge of the viewport VP area and an attempt is
being made to move it further, outside the area, the position of the viewport VP on the
virtual screen is moved.

At this time the viewport display position control section 36 determines the direction and
amount of movement of the viewport VP (step S208), and based on this, acquires the

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image data of the area to be displayed from the desktop data storage section 21 of the
video memory 20 (step S209). The viewport VP display range is shifted and scrolling is
carried out by performing viewport VP display based on this data (step S210).

On detecting that the position of the viewport VP has reached the edge of the desktop
area, the viewport display position control section 36 halts viewport VP movement
processing.

Next, the processing for halting enlarged display, when enlarged display is being performed
with the viewport VP as described above, will be described with reference to Figure 10.

As shown in Figure 10, when the user presses operating button 13D while enlarged
viewport VP display is being performed, that event is received by the event processing
section 51 of the user interface driver 50 (step S301 ). A viewport erase command is then
output to the viewport generation/erasure request section 53 from the event processing
section 51 (step S302). On receiving this, the viewport generation/erasure request section
53 issues a request to the video driver 30 to erase the enlarged viewport VP display (step
S303).

On receiving this, the video driver 30 acquires the original display status data-that is, the
desktop resolution and image data-stored in the desktop data storage section 21 of the
video memory 20 (step S304). Then, the display mode control section 32 of the video
driver 30 issues a request to the video chip 40 for processing to change the display
mode-that is, the display resolution-of the display unit 1 2 (step S305). Together with this,
the video driver 30 issues a request to the video chip 40 for drawing processing based on
the original display status data acquired from the desktop data storage section 21 (step
S306).

On receiving this, the video chip 40 changes the display resolution of the display unit 12

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and has the image drawn at the original desktop resolution (step S307). By this means,
the state before enlarged display of the viewport VP was performed is restored. Since the
original desktop resolution and image data are held in the desktop data storage section 21
while enlarged viewport VP display is being performed, speedy processing can be
5 performed at this time. Also, as image data is constantly updated in the desktop data
storage section 21 , display can be performed based on the latest image data.

With the computer apparatus of the present embodiment, as described above, when the
user performs a prescribed operation a viewport VP of a prescribed range with the mouse
pointer MP at its center is set, and the image within this viewport VP range is displayed in
10 enlarged form in the entire display area of the display unit 12. Thus, while operating the
l% computer apparatus, the user can perform enlarged display of the image in a desired
;B area~to be more precise, on-screen objects such as characters and icons-whenever he
a r; or she wishes. It therefore becomes possible to display a large desktop on the display unit
:;| 12, which has high resolution, to display an entire image of large size (comprising many
1SCI dots) within the display area of the display unit 12, and to perform enlarged viewport VP
j 3 display only when necessary without losing the advantage of being able to view a plurality
of objects on the screen. As a result, it is possible to prevent a decrease in display unit 12
|U visibility, which can be said to be especially advantageous for users with weak eyesight.

Also, with this kind of computer apparatus, by using a display unit 12 with high resolution
20 it is possible to provide a large desktop without a concomitant decrease in visibility even
while aiming at a reduction in the size of the display unit 12.

In addition, when enlarged viewport VP display is performed, the display resolution of the
display unit 12 is changed by the display mode control section 32 of the video driver 30
without changing the desktop resolution. As a result, it is possible to perform so-called
25 on-the-fly enlarged image display that does not require reset processing for the display unit
1 2, enabling seamless operation to be ensured for the user. Moreover, since applications

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that are dependent on the desktop resolution are not affected, and the layout of icons,
application windows, and so forth, displayed on the desktop does not change, there is no
degradation of ease of use for the user.

Furthermore, image enlargement processing and virtual screen generation in accordance
5 with viewport VP settings are performed only by the user interface driver 50, video driver
30, video chip 40, and video memory 20 of the display control block 1 5, and are not notified
to the OS or application side, and, so to speak, constitute local processing of the display
control block 1 5 only. Therefore, the OS and applications are not affected in any way by
image enlargement processing.

lift Also, as a viewport VP with the mouse pointer MP set as its center is displayed in enlarged
form in the entire display area of the display unit 12, the user can perform enlargement
:p processing centered on the desired part. It is therefore possible to prevent situations
J S where, for example, after enlargement, a part that the user wants is at the edge of the
W display area and difficult to see, or is outside the display area and so not visible at all.

iS;f Moreover, operations can be performed to move the mouse pointer MP in the viewport VP,
111 and furthermore the viewport VP enlarged display area scrolls if the mouse pointer MP
J I reaches the edge of the viewport VP display area, providing excellent operability.

In addition, desktop (and application) image data is saved in the desktop data storage
section 21 while enlarged viewport VP display is being performed, and moreover data

20 updating is performed constantly from the CPU 10 side. Therefore, the latest image can
always be displayed on both the viewport VP enlarged display screen and the
original-status screen displayed when enlarged viewport VP display is halted. Also, since
the CPU 1 0 performs image data updating forthe desktop data storage section 21 , various
operations can be executed on the desktop and in applications even during enlarged

25 viewport VP display.

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In the above described embodiment, the configuration is such that enlarged display of the
viewport VP is performed based on the mouse pointer MP, but this is not a limitation. For
example, it would also be possible to perform enlarged display of the window W in the
active state on the desktop when a predetermined operation is performed, as shown in
5 Figure 11- In this case, instead of using the mouse pointer MP as a base, a viewport VP
could be set automatically in, for example, the top-left corner of the active window W, and
enlarged to fill the entire display area of the display unit 12.

Apart from this, the cursor for character input, for example, could be considered as the
base instead of the mouse pointer MP. In this case, however, it is necessary to acquire
10 cursor position information, etc., from an application on the OS side, making it impossible
In to perform processing independently of the OS as in the above described embodiment.

s p Also, in the above described embodiment, the position of the outer frame of the viewport
VP that is set on the basis of the mouse pointer MP when the desktop screen is being
W displayed can be displayed together with the mouse pointer MP.

1§K Further, in the above described embodiment the display unit 12 is not limited to an LCD,
lU but can also be of another type, such as a CRT (Cathode Ray Tube).

Also, the example of a so-called notebook computer is given for the computer apparatus,
but a desktop type, etc., can also be used. Of course, the mouse 13 is not limited to a
pointing device 1 3A and operating buttons 1 3B, 1 3C, and 1 3D, and various other kinds can
20 be used as well as an ordinary mouse.

Moreover, in the above described embodiment, an approach is taken whereby enlarged
display of the viewport VP and restoration of the original display status are performed by
changing the display resolution of the display unit 12 with respect to the panel resolution
of the display unit 12, but an approach is also possible whereby, starting from an initial

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state in which the desktop resolution set in the display unit 12 and the display resolution
of the display unit 1 2 are the same, the display resolution of the display unit 1 2 is made to
differ from the desktop resolution. At the same time, an approach is also possible whereby
the image display status can be restored to its original form by restoring the display unit 1 2
display resolution to what it was originally—that is, by making it the same as the desktop
resolution.

In the present embodiment, it is also possible for a program that performs the kind of
processing shown in the above described embodiment to be stored in a storage medium
such as any of various kinds of memory chip, and for the program stored in this storage
medium to be executed by a computer apparatus.

Moreover, the present embodiment can also take the form of a program transmission
apparatus, etc., comprising storage means such as CD-ROM, DVD, memory, hard disk,
RAM, etc., storing a program that performs the kind of processing shown in the above
described embodiment; and transmitting means for reading the program from this storage
means and transmitting the program to an apparatus that executes the program, via a
connector or a network such as the Internet, a LAN, or the like. Such a program
transmission apparatus is especially suitable when installing a program that performs the
above described kind of processing for updating the program for an existing display unit
driver.

The computer apparatus here includes a computer apparatus consisting of a display unit
and a computer main unit that controls it, but the invention is not so limited, as one of
ordinary skill in the art would well understand that the apparatus is also inclusive of devices
having a display apparatus, a driver unit that controls the display unit, and so forth.

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In addition to the above, it is possible to selectively adopt or reject the configuration
presented in the above described embodiment, or change it to another configuration as
appropriate, insofar as this does not deviate from the essentials of the present invention.

It will be further understood that various changes in the details, materials, and
arrangements of the parts which have been described and illustrated in order to explain the
nature of this invention may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the
principle and scope of the invention as expressed in the following claims.

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